Compare towns

Roxbury vs Mapleton vs Nelson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Roxbury has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureRoxburyMapletonNelson
People
Population
299Lowest
1,884Highest
648
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-13.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±17.7Highest
11% above U.S.
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
42.3±11.7
9% above U.S.
Roxbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±11.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Nelson and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.4%±10.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
24.8%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.4%±15.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Roxbury and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,226±$14kLowest
14% below U.S.
$91,731±$25k
14% above U.S.
$99,792±$23kHighest
24% above U.S.
Nelson and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$323,100±$219k
about the U.S. average
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$340,900±$49kHighest
about the U.S. average
Nelson and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,203±$243Highest
15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,787Highest
86% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$5,575
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±68.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Nelson and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
Work from home
0.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
31.5%±8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district — RSU 79/MSAD 01 Nelson School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.